Manager, Power Plant - Night Shift

University of Arkansas•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

POSITION SUMMARY – DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM MANAGER UNDER THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS, THE DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM (DES) MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAILY OPERATION, SUPERVISION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEMS. THIS INCLUDES CHILLED WATER AND STEAM PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO MEET THE CAMPUS’S ENERGY DEMANDS. THE DES MANAGER OVERSEES THE OPERATION OF CENTRAL PLANT EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING OVER 22,000 TONS OF CHILLER CAPACITY AND MORE THAN 5,000 BOILER HORSEPOWER. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE COORDINATING ROUTINE AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE, MONITORING PLANT PERFORMANCE, ENSURING SAFETY STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED, AND SUPPORTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY GOALS. THIS ROLE INCLUDES DIRECT SUPERVISION OF PLANT PERSONNEL, CONTRACTORS, AND VENDORS, AND SUPPORTS TRAINING EFFORTS TO ENSURE SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS. THE MANAGER ALSO ASSISTS IN SCHEDULING SYSTEM OUTAGES, COORDINATING SYSTEM UPGRADES, AND IMPLEMENTING RELIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPROVEMENTS. THE POSITION REQUIRES THE WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (BAS) FOR MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS OF CHILLERS, BOILERS, HEAT EXCHANGERS, AND ENERGY SYSTEMS. THE MANAGER USES BAS DATA TO ASSIST WITH TROUBLESHOOTING AND TO SUPPORT ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES. WHILE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRAMMING BAS SYSTEMS, COORDINATION WITH BOILER TECHNICIANS AND CONTRACTORS IS EXPECTED. THE DES MANAGER SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH DISTRICT CHILLED WATER AND HEATING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING HYDRONIC DISTRIBUTION, SYSTEM BALANCING, AND LOAD MANAGEMENT. EXPERIENCE WITH IDENTIFYING SYSTEM INEFFICIENCIES AND SUPPORTING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS DESIRED. THE MANAGER SHOULD ALSO HAVE PRACTICAL AND BASIC EXPERIENCE WITH CHILLERS, INCLUDING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, UNDERSTANDING CHILLER SEQUENCES OF OPERATION, MONITORING CHILLER PERFORMANCE THROUGH BAS OR LOCAL CONTROLS, VERIFYING REFRIGERANT PRESSURES AND TEMPERATURES, AND ASSISTING IN TROUBLESHOOTING ISSUES SUCH AS POOR ΔT PERFORMANCE, ABNORMAL OPERATING NOISE, OR FAULT CODES. WHILE ADVANCED SERVICE AND REPAIR MAY BE HANDLED BY SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, THE MANAGER MUST BE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING IN-HOUSE EFFORTS AND RECOGNIZING EARLY SIGNS OF PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANAGER SHOULD HAVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH HIGH-PRESSURE BOILERS, INCLUDING BASIC OPERATION, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND SAFETY CHECKS. GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF BOILER WATER TREATMENT, COMBUSTION CONTROLS, AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE/LOCAL CODES IS EXPECTED. THE MANAGER WILL ALSO ASSIST IN PREPARING SYSTEMS FOR INSPECTIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING. OVERALL, THIS POSITION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING THE SAFETY, RELIABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL READINESS OF THE CAMPUS ENERGY SYSTEMS WHILE SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONAL GOALS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PERFORMANCE.

Requirements

HS diploma/GED.
10 years of steam, chilled water, and heating water production experience
3 years of experience in a supervisory role.
Computer proficiency level: Intermediate.
Valid driver’s license with fewer than 12 points on their Motor Vehicle Record.
High Pressure Boiler Operator’s license.

Nice To Haves

5-7 years supervisory experience in a healthcare setting.
CHFM (Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager).
Computer proficiency level: Advanced.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the daily operation, supervision, and maintenance of the University’s District Energy Systems.
Oversees the operation of central plant equipment, including over 22,000 tons of chiller capacity and more than 5,000 boiler horsepower.
Coordinating routine and corrective maintenance
Monitoring plant performance
Ensuring safety standards are maintained
Supporting energy efficiency goals
Direct supervision of plant personnel, contractors, and vendors
Supports training efforts to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Assists in scheduling system outages, coordinating system upgrades, and implementing reliability and sustainability improvements.
Uses BAS data to assist with troubleshooting and to support energy conservation measures.
Coordination with boiler technicians and contractors is expected.
Identifying system inefficiencies and supporting corrective actions is desired.
Assisting in troubleshooting issues such as poor ΔT performance, abnormal operating noise, or fault codes.
Preparing systems for inspections and emergency response planning.